Head restraint guide system

ABSTRACT

A head restraint guide system is provided to reduce or eliminate contact points between an armature of a head restraint and a housing in a vehicle seat assembly. The housing extends through a seat back frame. In a first embodiment, a retainer is secured to the housing and a washer is seated within the retainer. A retaining cap closes and maintains the washer within the retainer. The armature extends through the guide system contacting only the washer, thus eliminating vibrations and noise due to contact between the armature and the attachment tube. The washer comprises a non-rigid material, preferably felt. In a second embodiment, an elongated sleeve comprising a non-rigid material, preferably felt, is seated within the housing. The sleeve receives and surrounds the armature to eliminate contact points between the armature and the housing, thereby eliminating vibrations and noise therebetween.

1. FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to a head restraint for an automotive vehicle seatand more particularly, to a head restraint guide for slidably guidinghead restraint armatures during vertical adjustment of the headrestraint relative to the seat.

2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Head restraint structures mounted on vehicle seat backs to provideoccupant comfort and safety are well known in the art. Typically, atleast one armature extends from the head restraint to attach the headrestraint to the seat back. The seat back includes a frame, typicallyhaving an attachment tube extending through a portion of the frame forreceiving the armature. A head restraint guide system is often includedto allow vertical adjustment of the head restraint according to occupantpreference. Prior art guide systems usually utilize a plastic sleeveinserted within the attachment tube for guiding the armature.Unfortunately, insufficient or uneven frictional engagement between thearmature and the sleeve causes excessive noise from the buzz, squeaksand rattles of the armature within the sleeve.

Manufacturers have attempted to solve this problem by adding internal orexternal ribs to the sleeve to reduce the contact area between thearmature and the sleeve. Internal ribs guide the armature as it travelsthrough the sleeve while external ribs restrain the sleeve within theattachment tube. Such ribs are typically made of plastic and the wearingof the ribs over time causes looseness, thus changing the tolerancebetween the armature and the sleeve and between the sleeve and theattachment tube. This change in tolerance leads to an increase in buzz,squeaks, and rattles, and also varies the adjustment effort required tomove the head restraint over time. Additionally, plastic guide systemsare greatly affected by temperature variances, typically increasingadjusting effort with decreased temperature.

It is therefore a goal of the invention to provide a head restraintguide system affording a toleranced fit between the attachment tube andthe armature which prevents unwanted vibrations by sufficientlyrestraining the armature within the attachment tube while still allowingeasy vertical adjustment of the head restraint. It is a further goal ofthe invention to provide a head restraint guide system which does notwear away over time, thus providing consistent vibration damping andadjustment effort throughout the life of the vehicle. Finally, it isalso a goal of the invention to provide a head restraint guide systemsubstantially unaffected by temperature variations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the invention, a head restraint guidefor coupling and guiding an elongated armature of a head restraint to avehicle seat back is provided including a housing, a retainer, aresilient washer and a retainer cap. The housing is fixedly secured tothe seat back for slidably receiving the armature and having an innerwall extending between first and second opposing ends defining anaperture therethrough. The retainer is secured to a least one of theends of the housing and has a center bore aligned axially with theaperture of the housing. The resilient washer is seated within the boreof the retainer and has a center bore for slidably receiving thearmature therethrough, the center bore has a width smaller than thewidth of the armature to frictionally guide the armature through thehousing and dampen the vibrations between the armature and the housing.The retainer cap is coupled to the retainer for closing the washertherein.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, a head restraintguide for coupling and guiding an elongated armature of a head restraintto a vehicle seat back is provided including a housing, a resilientsleeve and a retainer cap. The housing is fixedly secured to the seatback for slidably receiving the armature and having an inner wallextending between first and second opposing ends defining an aperturetherethrough. The resilient sleeve is elongated and is seated with theaperture of the housing and has a center bore for slidably receiving thearmature therethough, wherein the center bore has a width smaller thanthe width of the armature to frictionally guide the armature through thehousing and dampen vibrations between the armature and the housing. Theretainer cap is coupled to each of the ends of the housing for retainingthe sleeve with in the housing and between the two ends.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as thesame becomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front perspective view of a head restraint andseat assembly;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a headrestraint guide system of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the assembled first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a headrestraint guide system of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the assembled secondembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a partial view of a typical seat assembly 10 isshown. The seat assembly 10 includes a seat back 12, a seat cushion (notshown), and a head restraint 14. The head restraint 14 is adjustablyattached to the seat back 12 via a pair of spaced apart and parallelarmatures 16. The armatures 16 are slidably attached to a seat backframe 18 (shown in FIG. 2) within the seat back 12. A head restraintguide 20 (show in FIG. 2) facilitates the adjustable attachment of thehead restraint 14 relative to the seat back frame 18.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a first embodiment of ahead restraint guide 20 of the invention. The seat assembly 10 typicallyincludes a pair of head restraint guide systems 20, one for each of thearmatures 16. However, for simplicity only one of the guide systems willbe described in detail. A housing 21, having a first end 22 and anopposite second end 23, extends through the seat back frame 18 forreceiving one of the head restraint armatures 16 through the first end22 to attach the head restraint 14 to the seat assembly 10. The housing21 has an axially aligned aperture 36

extending from the first end 22 to the second end 23, thereby definingan inner wall 38. While the housing 21 is shown as a cylindrical tube,one will appreciate that a variety of shapes could be used.Additionally, the seat back frame 18 is preferably U-shaped as shown,but a seat back frame of any configuration may be used withoutcompromising the inventive concept.

The guide 20 further comprises a retainer 24, a washer 26, and aretainer cap 28. Specifically, the retainer 24 comprises a retainer base32 and an opposite retainer head 34, with the head 34 having a largeroutside diameter than the base 32. The retainer base 32 is secured tothe first end 22 of the housing 21. The retainer 24 has an axiallyaligned retainer bore 25 for receiving the armature 16, the diameter ofthe retainer bore 25 being larger in the head 34 than in the base 32.Further, the diameter of the retainer bore 25 in the head 34 is largerthan the outside diameter of the base 32, thereby defining a relief 30.The washer 26 is seated on the relief 30 of the retainer 24.Alternatively, the washer 26 abuts the retainer head 34 instead of beingseated within it. The retainer cap 28 fits around the retainer head 34to maintain the position of the washer 26 securely within the housing21. The retainer 24 and the retainer cap 28 may be separate parts whichconnect together, for example, in a snap fit relationship to retain thewasher 26 therebetween, or the retainer 24 and retainer cap 28 may beinjection molded, with the washer 26 being insert molded therein.

The retainer cap 28 has an axially aligned cap bore 29 for receiving thearmature 16. The washer 26 also includes a center bore 27 for receivingthe armature 16, with the center bore 27 having a diameter slightlysmaller than the diameter of the armature 16. As such, the washer 26provides a constant contact surface and dampener between the armature 16and the guide 20 as the armature 16, and thus the head restraint 14,moves vertically with respect to the seat back 12.

The washer 26 comprises any non-rigid material with noise and vibrationinsulating properties, and is preferably a high density natural orman-made felt. The washer 26, being resilient and non-rigid, conforms tothe inside of the retainer cap 28 or the retainer 24 in which it isseated, while also snugly surrounding the armature 16 to hold it inposition, thus providing excellent tolerances between the armature 16and the guide 20. Since the washer 26 is, however, non-rigid, resilientand compressible, it can accommodate a broad range of armature 16 sizeswithout any adjustment. Also, the non-rigid characteristics of thewasher 26 allows the armature 16 to move within the guide 20 withrelatively little effort, thus allowing easy vertical adjustment of thehead restraint 14. Additionally, the guide 20 operates with highconsistency, since felt is affected little by friction and/ortemperature variances.

As shown in FIG. 2, the guide 20 further includes a second retainer 40,a second washer 42, and a second retainer cap 44 attached to the secondend 23 of the housing 21 in a substantially identical manner as thatdescribed above. Using two washers 26, 42 provides the armature 16 withtwo contact points between the armature 16 and the guide 20, thus bettersecuring the armature 16 within the guide 20 and providing bettervibration damping characteristics.

Turning now to FIG. 4, a second embodiment of a head restraint guide 50of the invention is illustrated. The guide 50 comprises a sleeve 54seated within the housing 51 and a pair of retainer caps 56. The housing51 is structurally similar to the housing 21 of the first embodiment,having a first end 52 and an opposite second end 53. The housing 51further includes an axially aligned aperture 58, thereby defining aninner wall 60, to receive the sleeve 54 therein. The housing 51 is shownas a cylindrical tube, but again a variety of shapes could be used.Similarly, the sleeve 54 is shown as an elongated cylinder, but could beany shape that would fit within the housing 51.

The sleeve 54 extends longitudinally with the housing 51 between thefirst end 52 and second end 53. The sleeve 54 includes a center bore 55for receiving the armature 16, again with the center bore 55 having adiameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the armature 16.Preferably, the sleeve 54 extends fully through the housing 51, from thefirst end 52 to the second end 53. In an alternative embodiment, thesleeve 54 may extend only partially through the housing 51 withoutcompromising the inventive concept.

The retainer caps 56 attach to the ends 52, 53 of the housing 51 tosecure and retain the sleeve 54 within the housing 51. Each retainer cap56 includes a cap bore 57 such that the armature 16 may passtherethrough and into the sleeve 54. The sleeve 54 comprises anymaterial suitable for use as the washer 26 of the first embodiment 10 ofthe invention, namely, any non-rigid, resilient material with noise andvibration insulating properties, preferably a high density natural orman-made felt. The sleeve 54 thus conforms to the inner wall 60 of thehousing 51 while snugly surrounding the armature 16 as described above.

The invention has been described here in an illustrative manner, and itis to be understood that the terminology used is intended to be in thenature of words or description rather than limitation. Manymodifications and variations of the invention are possible in light ofthe above teachings. For example, the housing 21, and therefore theretainer 24, washer 26 and retainer cap 28, need not be cylindrical. Itis only necessary that they fit together to provide a passageway for thearmature 16. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope ofthe appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than asspecifically enumerated within the description.

1.-9. (canceled)
 10. A head restraint guide for coupling and guiding anelongated armature of a head restraint to a vehicle seat back whereinthe armature defines an armature width, said guide comprising: a housingadapted to be fixedly secured to the seat back for slidably receivingthe armature, said housing having an inner wall extending between firstand second opposing ends defining an aperture therethrough; anelongated, resilient sleeve seated within said aperture of said housing;and a retainer cap coupled to each of said ends of said housing forretaining said sleeve within said housing and between said ends; saidsleeve including a center bore for slidably receiving the armaturetherethrough, wherein said center bore has a width smaller than thewidth of the armature to frictionally guide the armature through saidhousing and dampen vibrations between the armature and said housing. 11.A head restraint guide as set forth in claim 10 wherein said retainercap includes a cap bore for slidably allowing the armature therethrough.12. A head restraint guide as set forth in claim 11 wherein said capbore of said retainer cap has a width larger than the armature width.13. A head restraint guide as set forth in claim 12 wherein said sleeveextends from said first end to said second end of said housing.
 14. Ahead restraint guide as set forth in claim 13 wherein said sleeve is